Sunrise Mount Nemrut Adiyaman, Turkey

If you thought Sadam Hussein was a little too sure of his self-worth and power…

Photo was taken on top of Mt. Nemrut at sunrise. The mountain is only accessible during the summer months, as it is covered by snow and ice the rest of the year.

The West Terrace is the most sacred place on the mountain. The sun, the moon and all stars of the zodiac rise on your left. They reach their zenith directly in front of you, and descending to your right.

The statues on this terrace greatly surpass the ones on the East Terrace. The statues are also in a less exalted position, which looks down on the people from their raised platforms. The fallen heads of the statues have been set in front of them. The resemblance between the head of Antiochus and the god Apollo is striking. Apollo was the only god to whom Antiochus assigned his own priest to celebrate his rites.

The site was constructed by Antiochus 1, who prided himself on his royalty and power. He was deposed in 38 BC by the Romans after a 26 year reign. Antiochus believed himself to be the descendent of Apollo , and he built a statue of himself along with those of Apollo, Zeus, Tyche (Fortuna) and Hercules flanked by a lion and an eagle. An artificial mountain peak of rock 50 meters high is piled between the two ledges of the gods, and some suspect Antiochus’ tomb may be underneath it.

The colossal heads of the ancient gods now lie scattered at the summit of the mountains making an impressive picture at sunset.